Panaji (Goa): The court today postponed the verdict on anticipatory bail plea filed by former Digambar Kamat to May 29 in which he has already been given interim relief.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch today opposed the anticipatory bail petition of former chief minister Digambar Kamat who is being investigated in connection with illegal mining case.
SIT in its reply has demanded custodial interrogation of Kamat opposing his petition for anticipatory bail. There are several questions which he needs to be answer to have a fair probe.
Kamat was first questioned in the case by the SIT in February 2014 and later in April 2017.According to the report of Justice (Retd) M B Shah Commission, illegal mining to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore took place in the western state of Goa from 2005 to 2012 when the Supreme Court banned iron ore extraction in the state
A complaint was filed by the Mines and Geology Department in July 2013 seeking to fix criminal liability on those involved in the illegal mining as pointed out by various committees, including the Centre-appointed Shah Commission
The Crime Branch then registered an FIR in August 2013 against those named in various reports (Shah Commission and other committees) including Kamat, former Mines and Geology Director Arvind Lolienkar and some other officials of the department, mining firms and others
The FIR was registered under various IPC sections, including 120 (b)(conspiracy), 166 (public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person), relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, Mines and Minerals Development Act, Mineral Conservation and Development Rules and Goa Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation, Storage of Minerals Rules 2004
Based on the complaint, the SIT was formed by the then BJP government to probe the case
An apex court appointed Central Empowered Committee and State Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee had also confirmed illegal mining in the state.

Team TNV